Letters: Attacks on Obama; Fentanyl, heroin; Do-nothing Congress

President Barack Obama when he was hosting King Salman of Saudi Arabia at the White House in September 2015. (Pool / Getty Images)

Attacks on Obama

In regard to Craig Schamburg's letter (The Capital, June 21):

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Mr. Schamburg, have you been asleep for the past eight years? The reason I ask is that you seem to be completely oblivious to the eight years of humiliating, bigoted and often racist attacks that Barack Obama and his family had to endure — much of it having nothing to do with policy or legislation.

Yes. for eight long years the Republicans and the right-wing media perpetrated a campaign of slanderous attacks. How quickly you and other right-wingers seem to forget about the birther movement started by none other than your tweeter president.

Then, when that slander failed, those on the right attacked Obama as being not Christian but of the Muslim faith, which then, according to right-wing nut job logic made Obama a terrorist. It was all fake news — all of it.

But I think the most egregious attack came about 18 months ago, when a Republican representative from West Virginia compared Michelle Obama to "a chimp on heels." It was utterly shameful and, yes, racist.

So, Mr Schamburg, if you are outraged by attacks from the Democrats regarding Donald Trump's childish antics, well, you better buckle up, because the Democrats learned from the best: from the party of hate, formerly known as the party of no, aka the Republicans.

Trump is an unqualified and undignified representative of the office of the presidency. He's a complete disaster, for reasons of his own doing.

I thank the editors for noting that the opioid issue is still justifiably news- and comment-worthy (The Capital, June 24). But I was astounded that the newspaper, like many people who use substances, exchanged one drug for another, chasing a high or, in your case, a headline.

The editor's notebook item claims that Anne Arundel County "doesn't have a heroin problem or even an opioid problem so much as a fentanyl problem." We still have a heroin problem, combined with fentanyl, that is on a trajectory to double from last year.

Fentanyl is an opioid, as is heroin and many prescription drugs, some obtained legally and some obtained illegally. Fentanyl is found in many other substances as well. But do not downplay the role of heroin and its availability in the opioid community crisis, and the ability of heroin to lead one to dark and dangerous places, in plain sight.

It is unique here — why? We raised, stood by, mentored and, sadly, bury people we never would have expected to use, but who are now known to be using substances. It is not the same as elsewhere in the United States.

It is apparent to those of us who observe Congress that there is a clear lack of support and bipartisanship from the Democratic Party in Congress.

This nation has serious problems that must be addressed and the president can't do it all and should not have to do it all. The president is not the issue here, The issue is the country and the American people.

Our borders and the defense thereof are in danger. Our citizens are having so-called refugees forced upon our nation by people who are very misguided or who are deriving an income from those refugees.

Our economy is a mess — just listen to The Washington Post and The New York Times. Our citizens are out of work and yet members of Congress keep pushing for foreign workers and turn a blind eye to illegal aliens working in our country.